Secretary of State Reappoints Historic England Commissioners
The Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has reappointed Sandra Dineen, Paul Farmer, Patrick Newberry, Susie Thornberry and Richard Upton as Commissioners for Historic England from 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2025.
I am delighted that Sandra, Paul, Patrick, Susie and Richard have been re-appointed for a second term as Commissioners. They have all contributed materially to Historic England’s work during the last four years and will provide valuable continuity during a period of financial challenge and organisational transition as we promote the important role of heritage as a catalyst for regeneration in delivering levelling up and a vital contributor towards achieving net zero.
Sandra Dinneen
Sandra Dinneen has a background in economic development and regeneration and was Chief Executive of South Norfolk Council for 10 years. She drove a commercial focus through the organisation, including setting up a number of trading companies. She also has a particular interest in the prevention agenda leading the establishment of a multiagency help hub approach.
Sandra has a keen interest in organisational development, cultural change and commercialisation. She conceived an internal change programme to drive business performance through actively involving staff at all levels, working with them to maximise their potential and the potential of the business.
Sandra was the Chairman of the Chief Executive Group of the District Councils’ Network from July 2015–2017 - the representative body of all 201 district councils in England and worked closely with central government to shape policies particularly around growth, planning, housing and prevention. Sandra also sits on the board of a number of organisations including being a founder Trustee and Member of the Sapientia Multi Academy Trust, a Non Executive Director for Big Sky Property Developments Ltd and chairing the Norfolk fundraising board for Cancer Research UK.
Paul Farmer
Paul Farmer has been Chief Executive of Mind, the leading mental health charity working in England and Wales since May 2006.
He is Chair of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), the leading voice of the UK’s charity and social enterprise sector. Paul is also a trustee at Lloyds Bank Foundation which invests in charities supporting people to break out of disadvantage at critical points in their lives.
Paul was Chair of the NHS England Mental Health Taskforce which brought together health and care leaders and experts to create the current mental health Five Year Forward View for the NHS in England. He co-authored ‘Thriving at Work’ for the government, setting out how to transform mental health in work places.
Paul has an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of East London, is an Honorary Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford, and The Royal College of Psychiatrists, and was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours 2016.
Patrick Newberry
Patrick holds a number of non executive directorships in the financial and professional services sectors, sitting on, or chairing, audit and risk committees. He was a partner in PwC for 25 years, working in the financial sector in the UK, USA and Continental Europe. He also served as a member of PwC's Supervisory Board, Chair of the Strategy, Governance and International Sub-Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He was a board member and former President (2010-2011) of the Management Consultancies Association.
In the not for profit sector, Patrick is a Trustee of the Georgian Group, Chairman of The Cornish Buildings Group and a member of The Duchy and Bicton Agricultural Colleges Advisory Board and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Susie Thornberry
Susie is assistant director at Imperial War Museums where she leads public engagement for adults, young people, schools, and families across the five museums. Her extensive experience in arts, museums, and heritage includes roles with Historic Royal Palaces, Artichoke, and Battersea Arts Centre. In 2016, she was producer of London's Burning, a festival to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, including London 1666 a 120-metre-long sculpture created by hundreds of young Londoners which was spectacularly set alight on the River Thames.
Richard Upton
Richard was the founder of the specialist regeneration property developer, Cathedral Group and was previously a co-founding director of Mount Anvil. He has extensive experience in the field of complex regeneration projects through the UK. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive of U+I the specialist regeneration property and investment business in July 2015, following the merger of Cathedral Group and Development Securities.
Richard has served as a member of Historic England's London Advisory Committee since 2012 and has campaigned extensively for sustainable restoration of heritage buildings, including the campaign to save Smithfield Market which he funded and fought successfully; the historic market buildings will now house the new Museum of London.
